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Along with european involvenment this was the time of the first recorded discovery by a local pastoralist James Whalan. However, according to legend, Whalan was not the first European to set eyes on the caves. That finding goes to James McKeown, an ex-convict and possibly an outlaw, who had been using the caves as a hideout.
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Years passed and James Whalan and his broth Charles discovered lots of openings around the Jenolan area. Around that time the Elder cave whch was the first dark cave was discovered and eplored.
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Nicholas Irwin and George Whiting together discovered the Lucas Cave which is so far the biggest of them all!
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After a bit of debating the government finally receved full government control on all the jenolan caves.
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A man who was nameed Jeremiah Wilson was apointed as 'keeper' for the 'Binda' (also known as fish or river) caves.
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Although there was government control, the caves didn't have much protection. In the early times visitors were free to break off formations and take souvenirs back home. This practice finally became illegal in this year! (today you can still see damage in lots of the Jenolan caves!)
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In the late 1870s to the early 1880s the imperial cave was dicovered. This discovery was soon followed bye the left imperial cave. In 1952 the left Imperial cave was renamed the chifley cave after the prime minister J.B.Chifley.
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Paths and lighting was installed to make it easyer to get around and the paths made sure poeple didnt go were they could damage the caves. Along with the paths and lighting came an accommodation house.
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Another 2 caves, the Jublee cave and the Jersey caves were discovered to make a total of 6 big show caves!
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Early in this decade James Carvossa Wiburd was appointed as superntendent of caves. He investigated deep into the caves in the south. He worked with Jack Edwards and Robert Bailey. Together they discovered the River, the Pool of Cerberrus and also the Temple of Baal, the Orient and lastly the Ribbon cave, were all discovered.
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All caves were discovered mainly by candle light. This one, the Barralong cave was discovered by staff of the Jenolan caves, Ron Newbould and John Culley.
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The spider cave was discovered by Bruce Welch making 13 caves!
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It has been 175 years since the first European stamble on the Jenolan caves. There are so far about 13 caves and 11 of those are show caves that are ready to explore. Still today there are more being found when guids bring unexpecting tourists into new caves.
